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Weekly Recap: Automakers rethink the definition of luxury

Variety is the spice of life, but it's becoming a prerequisite for luxury carmakers in the ultra-competitive US market. The Detroit Auto Show was strong evidence of this reality. It's not enough to offer attractive and well-appointed cars and SUVs anymore. Luxury brands that want to be competitive need to invest in everything from high-powered supercars to clever hybrids. To be relevant, you need to be green and mean – and everything in between. As General Motors product chief Mark Reuss said after the reveal of the 640-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V: "We are not leaving anything on the table." He was speaking for Cadillac, but he might as well have been speaking for the luxury car market. The CTS-V debuted in Detroit about an hour after Lexus surprised showgoers with the reveal of the RC F GT3 race car and then announced ambitious plans to return to competitive racing. That almost overshadowed the fact Lexus had just revealed another potent addition to its growing F line, the 467-hp GS F. View 20 Photos But for luxury brands, it's not just about maximum horsepower for well-heeled enthusiasts or decadent amenities for the Grey Poupon set. Strong competition from all corners has forced automakers to refine and expand their lineups in ways unforeseen even a few years ago. Case in point: Mercedes-Benz finally has an answer to the BMW X6, rolling out the GLE coupe in Detroit. The X6, which blends coupe-like styling cues with some of the functionality of an SUV, debuted in 2008. Back then it was a punchline, but seven years and more than 260,000 sales later, the X6's success has compelled Benz to respond. Mercedes – one of the strongest proponents of diesel technology – also debuted the C350 plug-in hybrid sedan, which promises a range of 20 miles on electricity, though fuel economy figures were not announced. The car pairs Mercedes' well-received 208-hp turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor for total output of 275 hp and 443 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, Infiniti will add the Q30 hatchback to its lineup by the end of the year, new president Roland Kruger reiterated in Detroit. It's expected to be joined by a crossover variant, and the additions will help strengthen Infiniti in the United States and abroad. "While we're expanding our product line, we're also expanding our market reach," he said. That's something echoed by Jaguar executives, who are preparing to launch the brand's first crossover, the F-Pace, in 2016.

2022 Lexus LX 600 starts at nearly $90,000

Lexus unveiled pricing for the 2022 LX 600 SUV by uploading the new truck's configurator. Financially, there's good news for American shoppers who want the 300-series Toyota Land Cruiser but can't have it: the LX 600 isn't much more expensive than the outgoing Toyota. Last year's two-row, entry-level Land Cruiser started at $85,665 after destination. The entry-level, two-row 2022 LX 600 starts at $88,245 after the $1,345 destination fee — which has gone up by $50 — an increase of $2,580, but for the completely new model with additional luxury trimmings. The price difference is even less between LX generations, with the new one costing a scant $470 more than the 2021 LX 570. Pricing for all five trims is below. Base: $88,245 Premium: $96,345 F Sport: $102,345 Luxury: $104,345 Ultra Luxury: $127,345 All trims sit on the same TNGA-F body-on-frame chassis as the Land Cruiser and are powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 making 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to all four wheels through a ten-speed automatic transmission. The Lexus features adjustable ride height and suspension stiffness. The former adjusts automatically between low for easier access, normal for pavement driving and two lifted heights for off-roading. And to assist with off-roading, the Lexus gets Crawl Control off-road cruise control, multiple terrain modes including an automatic one, and surround cameras that even show under the truck to help avoid banging together rocks and vulnerable parts of the car. Inside, the dual-screen infotainment system features a 12.3-inch upper touchscreen that handles audio, navigation and other vehicle settings and information displays. The lower 7-inch touchscreen is mainly used for climate control and comfort settings. The interface and operating system for the infotainment is the same system that made its debut in the completely redesigned Lexus NX. In our experience, it's a massive improvement over past Lexus systems, though not quite a class-leader. The base model comes with two rows and seating for five. The Premium adds a third row for seven-person seating and offers more package options like the 25-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The new F Sport trim sports telltale exterior signs like a black mesh grille and 22-inch forged aluminum wheels. Mechanically, it's upgraded with a limited-slip differential, sport-tuned adaptive dampers and an exclusive rear stabilizer bar. Luxury boasts finer leather and audio.

Lexus will reportedly usher in new design language with global EV

Lexus took its first steps in the electric car sector when it released the UX 300e, a compliance car developed for the Chinese and European markets. It's planning to launch a follow-up model in 2022, and the yet-unnamed EV will represent a much more serious attempt at capturing a slice of the segment in global markets than its predecessor. British magazine Autocar reported that the next electric Lexus will take the form of a crossover built on the e-TNGA platform developed to underpin a large number of Toyota and Subaru models. It will be about the same size as the NX, one of the firm's best-selling models, but it will receive a specific design inspired by the LF-Z Electrified concept (pictured) introduced in March 2021. It will retain the spindle grille, though the feature will become more of a trim piece than an air vent, and the design study's wide rear light bar is expected to make the transition from the drawing board to the showroom floor. Some of these defining styling cues will permeate other models in the 2020s.  What the low, hatchback-like body will hide remains to be seen. Autocar believes the crossover will be closely related to the production version of the Toyota bZ4X concept, which will also ride on the e-TNGA architecture. All-wheel-drive seems like a given, and Lexus will undoubtedly put a greater focus on performance and handling than its parent company. We're expecting to see some degree of automated driving, though not full autonomy. Interestingly, a steer-by-wire system may come standard, allegedly to provide a more engaging driving experience. Lexus could introduce the EV before the end of 2022, meaning it would arrive in showrooms as a 2023 model. If everything goes according to plan, it will launch a total of 10 new electrified models (including hybrids) by 2025. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.